I got a chance to choose a school in one of these countries as an exchange college student. Which city will be the best on my future finance or IB career resume? I guess I'll learn the local language. So, which one helps me the most to get a job in the field of finance?
the UK one costs as much as the Switzerland one, Paris next, Rome is the cheapest.
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I'm assuming you'll go on exchange for a semester tops right? Look at this from two angles:
CV Gold: For IB London and Paris are the top because in the end they get most of the European business (London also gets US business). Switzerland comes in 3rd as they have solid banking institutions but mainly take care of the DACH region. Rome is last as it serves the smallest market by individual size and isn't even the financial capital of Italy (that goes to Milan).
Fun: Being 100% honest, an exchange semester won't help with chances of improving IB career prospects (unless you go to Switzerland as recruiters there like people who have had some previous experience working or studying in the country). You should consider which place is more fun and better to spend a semester also in proportion to the cost of life there. I would put Paris and Rome as the top and Rome slightly ahead (I'm Italian so am biased) as the food, people, culture and the city itself are great. London is also awesome but for a single semester probably not the best option. For a whole year perhaps. With Switzerland you didn't specify a location meaning the fun can vary. If you go to Basel you'll shoot your balls off whilst Zurich can be pretty fun, so location matters.
As for the language, you won't be able to bring any of them to business proficient or fluent in a semester or even a year if you start from 0 so don't look at the language element as a career point but more as a fun point too. Do you enjoy learning French, Italian or German more?
Overall, I would pick Rome or Paris
Yes it is a one-semester exchange program, and the Switzerland school is located in Lugano, about one hour to Milan. I am disappointed to hear that learning a foreign language in one semester is impossible, but I'll still try my best. I agree with you that for fun Rome is good to go. However I gotta keep a high GPA and earn as many credits as I can. Also, I am really interested in working in a Switzerland bank in the future. So I'd pick between Paris and Lugano. Thank you very much for your comment!
For the language thing, my point applies to the average person. Perhaps you're a beast and will be able to develop the language significantly in a short period of time (to be fair, even if you go from 0 to pretty good conversation that may impress recruiters).
Thanks for the clarification on the Swiss location, but again Lugano isn't really a banking centre as much as other Swiss cities. In that case, opt for Paris
Rome would be pointless - universities are unknown and basically 0 network for IB and business in general (same for Lugano). Paris only if you go to a top Grande Ecolè or similar (HEC/ESSEC/ESCP). I would pick up London
Thank you! Your opinion helps.
London, hands down.
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